Washing apparatus



April 16, 1929. H. TOWLER 1,709,238

4 WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1925 I /v VEN 702i. HAW/f) L. raw/15.

Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES HENRY L. TOWLER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

WASHING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 12, 1925. Serial No. 61,889.

Thisinvention relates to a washing machine or washing apparatus, and, particularly, to such an apparatus adapted to be used with any suitable receptacle, such as the laundry tubs now commonly supplied in nearly all dwellings. Commercial washing machines now'used in large numbers, as a rule, have a frame and a receptacle supported thereon adapted to contain the liquid and clothes.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which can be mounted on a suitable receptacle, such as an ordinary domestic laundry tub in which the clothes to be washed and washing liquid may be placed and in which the clothes engaging means will operate.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus comprising a frame having adjustable means adapted to be clamped onto a suitable receptacle, such as a laundry tub, which frame carries a motor and mechanism operated th reby including cup carrying plungers adapted to be disposed in said receptacle and reciprocated therein.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus comprising a frame including a casing closed except at its bottom, and in which a cross-head is reciprocated, to which are attached a plurality of plungers extending into said receptacle, the motor being mounted on said frame, and operating mechanism for reciprocating said crosshead, said receptacle being closed by a suitable cover.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus, as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which said casing forms a guideway for said crosshead and has its front side hinged to swing to open position whereby said crosshead may be removed.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a washing apparatus comprising a frame, members adjustable thereon to suit different lengthsof tubs or receptacles and adjustable clamping means pivoted to said members adapted to fit tubs having walls of difi'erent th cknesses, said frame carrying a motor and suitable. clothes-en gaging members operated thereby.

These and other objects and advantages of the invent-ion will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which Fig. 1 is a view in front eleiation of the device having a portion thereof removed and showing the receptacle and cover in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of 1 Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial view partly inside elevation and partly in vertical section of the crosshead and plunger connection thereto; and

Fig. 5 is a partial view in'vertical section showing the connection of the motor shaft to the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus is shown comprising a frame member 6 having a flat bottom portion through which extend elongated slot-s 6 and 6* at each end, respectively, said bottom portion contacting t-he upper flat sides of members 7 and 8 by which it is secured by the headed screws 9 extending through the slots 6 and and 6 into the members 7 and 8, respectively. The members 7 and 8 have spaced depending ears which are bored to receive a pivot shaft or pin 10 which also passes through spaced ears upstanding from members 11 forming one part of a clamp which has a flange 11* at its lower portion extending at right angles and adapted to fit along the inside and over the top edge of a receptacle B. While any suitable receptacle may be used, the apparatus is designed particularly for use with the stationary laundry tubs now commonly supplied in the basement and other rooms of modern dwellings, the other member of said clamp, illustrated as 12, alsohaving a flange 12 extending at right angles and adapted to fit along the outside and over the top vedge of receptacle B. Headed bolts 13 extend through members 11 and 12 and are provided at the outer side of the latter member with wing nuts 14:. Headed screws 15 also are threaded into the member 12 at its top and contact at their inner ends with the side of member 11. The frame 6 has a horizontal flange 6 some distance above its bottom portion on one end of which is mounted a motor 16 illustrated as of the electrical type. Said motor has an armature shaft or driving shaft 16" shown as movably coupled to a worm gear shaft 17. lVhile any suitable coupling may be used, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the end of shaft 17 is provided with a square bore 17 into which loosely fits the squared end of the shaft 16 The worm gear shaft 17 is journaled in bearings 17 extending through holes in each end of a casing 6 forming part of the frame 6, in which casing are disposed the worm gear 19 and the worm wheel gear 20. The bearings 18 have outer flanges 18 preferably circular in shape, which are bolted to the ends of casing 6, said worm gear 19 being disposed between said bearings 18. Casing 6 has a removable cover 6 at its rear side, held in place by suitable cap bolts and which has a hub thereon forming the rear bearing for a shaft 21, said casing having a boss 6 therein forming the other bearing for shaft 21, worm wheel gear 20 be ing disposed between the bearing 6 and the bearing in cover 6 It will be seen that frame 6 has a vertical flange or web 6 which forms the rear side of a casing 6 shown as of substantially rectangular shape and which is closed, except. at the bottom portion thereof. The front side 6 of easing 6 is formed as a hinged door having hinge lugs 6 thereon co-operating with lugs 6 on one end of casing 6, lugs 6 and 6 receiving the hinge pintles 22. The end of casing 6 opposite that having the lugs 6 thereon has pairs of spaced lugs 6 adjacent its top and bottom, through which pairs, respectively, extend headed studs 23 passing through eyelets in the eye-bolts 24 disposed between said lugs. The eyebolts 24 swing about studs 23 and into slots 6 in one side of the front 6 of casing 6 WVing nuts 25 are provided for the eyebolts 24 and may be tightened to hold the front 6 in tightly closed position. The front, rear and end walls of the casing 6 form a guideway in which is mounted for vertical reciprocation, a crosshead 26. Said crosshead has spaced rollers 27 revolubly mounted at its endswhich bear against the ends .of casing 6 and said crosshead also has at each side and adjacent each end, pairs of rollers 28 which bear against the front and rear sides of casing 6 Crosshead '26 is thus effectively held in place and guided in its reciprocating movement. A

crank member 29 is secured in the outer end of shaft 21 having an upper weighted or heavy counterweighted portion 29. Crank member 29 has an outwardly extending crank pin 29 extending through the hub at the cured at their lower ends, stems 35 carrying vacuum cups 35 having concave lower faces and of the type commonly used in washing machines. Stems 35 fit over plungers 34 and are detachably held thereon by pin catches 41 held in locking position by springs 41, forming releasing handles. The upper ends of the plungers 34 are slidable in chambers 26 and coiled compression springs 36 are disposed between the upper ends of said plungers and the top of said chamber. Said plungers have secured in their upper ends, rods 37 extending through bores in the top of chamber 26 and having collars 38 secured thereto at some distance above the crosshead 26. Coiled compression springs 39 are disposed between the collars 38 and the'top of cross head 26. lVith this construction it will be seen that the plungers 34 are yieldingly connected to the crosshead 26. The receptacle B is closed by a cover 40 extending across the top thereof and supported at the sides and front of said receptacle as well as on the members 11. Said cover has slots 40 in its rear side through which plungers 34pass and in which may be disposed the water faucets for supplying water to the receptacle B.

In operation, when the apparatus is to be used for washing clothes the same will be mounted on a suitable receptacle, such as a laundry tub, as shown in the drawings. Such laundry tubs vary in length and the members 7 and 8 can be adjusted on frame 6 by loosening the screws 9 so that members 11 will engage the inner side. of the tub or receptacle. Screws 9 can then be tightened. The members 11 and 12 can now be firmly clamped on the receptacle or tub by tightening the nuts 14. The sides of said laundry tubs are often at an angle and for this reason the screws 15 are provided. By turning this screw it will be seen that the flanges 11 and 12 can be made to stand at an angle to each other and to clamp therebetween the inner and outer surfaces of the tub. The bottom of frame 6 will always stand horizontal, owing to the pivotal connection of members 7 and 8 with the members 11 and frame 6 will be held rigidly in stationary position. The cover 40 being in place, the motor 16 can now be started and worm gear 18 and worm wheel gear 20 will be rotated, thus revolving the crank member 29. This will reciprocate crosshead 26 and the plungers 34 will be reciprocated in receptacle B. The clothes and washing liquid being placed in the receptacle the clothes will be engaged by the cups 35 and effectively washed. The plungers 34 can yield in their downward movement when the clothes are engaged by compressing springs 36 and the upward movement of said plungers will be cushioned by the springs 39. The crosshead is guided for reciprocation in a vertical path with the rollers 27 and 28 engaging the sides and ends of casing 6. The crosshead is effectively counterweighted by and compensated for by the heavy portions 29 on the crank member 29. If it is desired to detach the crosshead and attached parts, this can readily be done by loosening the wing nuts and swinging the bolts 24 out of slots 6 The door 6 can then be swung open about the pintles 22. lVhen this door is open the crosshead can be removed with the plungers by sliding pitman 30 off of pin-29 Pin 31 can also be quickly removed by releasing the locking key 32, and the crosshead disengaged fromthe pitman 30. Stems 35 with vacuum cups 35 can be quickly detached by pressing spring handle 41 outward to move'pin etl from engagement with plunger 34. It is frequently desirable to remove stems 35 and cups 35 to manipulate the clothes. Access may readily be had to the worm gear casing by removal of cover 6". It is thus seen that all parts of the device are very readily accessible and easily removable.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and efficient apparatus which can readily be mounted on any suitable receptacle, such as a stationary laundry tub and form, with such receptable, a washing machine. Hot and cold water faucets are usually provided adjacent the stationary laundry tubs and it will thus be quite convenient to supply the receptacle with necessary water. The device comprises comparatively few parts and is largely made of light metal, such as aluminum, so that it can be easily handled and quickly mounted in position. When mounted on a tub or other receptacle, a simple and eflicient washing machine is provided, one which operates with little or no vibration. The device has been demonstrated in actual practice and found to ing out the objects be very successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood, that variouschanges may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carryabove set forth, in the novel part-s and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described having in combination, a frame comprising a casing, said casing having spaced guides in which a plunger-carrying crosshead is adapted to be ."eciprocated, said casing having a hinged front forming the outer side of said guides whereby said crosshead may be removed when said front is in open position.

2. A device of the class described having in combination, a frame adapted to receive reciprocating plungers, an adjustable means at each end of said frame for engaging a receptacle and. supporting said frame thereon, members rigidly carried by said frame respectively pivoted to said adjustable means, said members being horizontally movable longitudinally on said frame, and means for clamping said members to said frame in various positions.

3. A device of the class described having in combination, a frame comprising a casing, said casing including a compartment for a worm gear and worm wheel gear, a motor on said frame connected to said worm gear, said casing including a second compartment having an open bottom and closed sides and top, said sides forming a guide way, one of said sides being hinged at one end to swing out and expose said guideway, a shaft to which said worm wheel gear is secured,a crank member carried by said shaft and disposed in said second compartment, a crosshead movable in said second compartment and vertically movable in said guideway, a pitman connecting said crank member and crosshead, and cup carrying plungers connected to said crosshead reciprocatable through the bottom of said second compartment.

4-. A washing machine structure adapted to be attached to and to cooperate with an open top receptacle having in combination, aframe comprising a casing having a front compartment constructed and arranged to form a guideway for a reciprocating plungercarrying cross head and to enclose a crank and connecting member for said cross head, a second compartment in the rear of said first mentioned compartment having spaced bosses in which a crank shaft is adapted to be ournaled, said last mentioned compartment being arranged to house a worm and worm wheel, a shelf on said casing adapted to support a motor for driving said worm and supporting means for said frame. 5. A device of the class described having in combination, a frame, said frame having a casing thereon closed save at its bottom adapted to receive a crosshead and having rectangularly disposed guiding surfaces at each end thereof, the front of said casing being formed as a hinged door, and means for holding said front in closed position.

6. A washing machine device adapted for attachment to an open-top receptacle having in combination, a frame member for supporting washing machine parts, adjustable means at each end of said frame for engaging opposite sides of said receptacle, and members rigidly and adjustably carried by each end of said frame pivoted to said adjustable means whereby said frame is rigidly supported on said means.

7 The structure set forth in claim 6, said last memtioned members being horizontally movable longitudinally of said frame Whereby said means may be arranged to engage different sized receptacles, and means for holding said members in rigid relation to said frame;

8. A Washing machine structure adapted for attachment to an open top receptacle having in combination, a frame member comprising a casing adapted to guide movable Washing machine parts, which parts extend into said receptacle, said frame having fiat surfaces at each end, members slidable on said frame and having at surfaces engaging said surfaces, means for clamping said member to said frame in various positions, clamping means for engaging the sides of said receptacle at each end of said frame, pivotal connecting means connecting said members and said clamping means, and ad ustable means earned by said clamplng means for preventing movement about said pivotal connecting means.

9. A washing'machine structure having in combination, a frame, means'on said frame adapted to be attached to an open-top receptacle, said frame comprising acasing formed as a rectangularguideway, a cross-head having spaced guiding means received in said guideway and adapted to move vertically therein and carry means adapted to co-operate With said receptacle, said frame having a portion formed thereon for supporting a motor, and a port-ion for enclosing a driving mechanism connecting said motor and crosshead.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY L. TOVVLER. 

